APPENDIX E: WEST CENTRAL AREA SAFE ROUTES TO SCHOOL TEAM MEETING NOTES WCA Meeting 1: 2/9/21 (Wayne goes through MNDOT planning guide/timeline) -Already did a version of school zone hazard observational assessment this fall. Will do another one for morning and afternoon observation. Elbow lake and Kensington on separate days. Hour before bell rings. -Looking at: crosswalks, stop signs, parents stopping at stop signs, yielding, other drivers behaving poorly, high school driving poorly. -Gives Glenwood observation. -SRTS is about walking and biking to school, not about how to make it easier to drop kids off at school. Kids not cars. -School Env policy assessment is underway. -Walk and bike audit. Already did one, but will be done again. -Jill and Naomi artist toolkit for SRTS purposes. This can be deployed in Elbow Lake and Kensington. -Community engagement event will probably be the bike sculpture with survey. (Jill shares safe to school toolkit) (Vision statement analysis) Change between schools, kids not biking from Elbow Lake to Kensington. Make a change to and from school facilities like baseball fields. Biggest Barriers: -Crossing the major highway is a barrier as parents feel it is not safe. -Kensington: Highway 55 to school side is cumbersome -Railroads through both cities -Buses get stuck behind trains Improvements: -Main street crosswalks in Elbow Lake -In front of the school is a 45ft street. Kids are walking on both sides of the street. Bus was making a turn and had plenty of room to make sure the kids are safe. Opportunities: -SHIP is great partner for SRTS planning. Has provided funding in the past. Encouragement and education -Crystal will be on Grant county schools -Dollar general across highway 79, young kids are running across the highway for school supplies -Car wash is going to be constructed by dollar general which may increase traffic, also new apartment buildings being built. -Channel sidewalks to safe locations. To apartment buildings and to parks. Find some natural corridors. Safe and convenient areas: -Main street Elbow Lake -West side of South Elementary has updated sidewalks, lights, and ADA accessible grants
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